Buzzing/humming gerbils!

[psandy]

I've noticed a couple of my gerbils buzzing/vibrating when they are sitting with me. You can't see them shaking or moving, but it's like an internal hum which they are making with their whole body. You hear a fast buzzing noise- I'd describe it a bit like a hummingbird's wings, it's so fast and, for want of a better word, hummy. Are they ok??

[Doctor Digby]

That is happiness/contentment. It is a good thing. vibrating for them is the equivilent to a cat purring. <3

[psandy]

Oh, is it really?? Hooray

[psandy]

Thank you for your help. How old is your gerbil? Looks handsome

[streetwisegerbil]

I'm glad you described this humming / vibrating. I know what a purring gerbil sounds like... A joy to behold and I always thought they did it when " of a certain age" ie confident but i came across a diary entry saying that two of mine purred when young.

Bertie now vibrates and hums when I pick him up to take him out. He sits really really low in my palm and does it. I then talk and stroke him and when he turns round I know he's getting impatient.   

It was the "sitting low" posture which made me wonder....  maybe he wasn't purring....     Usually they just scramble up in all sorts of comical ways.

[Doctor Digby]

XD streetwise you are adorable.

Digby is about 7 months old :3 shes a pretty timelordy princess.

She vibrates when I am brushing her or when she watches TV with me. shes my lil buttface.

[psandy]

She's lovely! She looks like one of my boys. Have two doves and one white, all with the reddish eyes. Keeping me busy . Thanks, you two-- you've made me feel much better!

[sofluffy]

I love holding purring gerbils <3

[psandy]

It's very sweet. I just didn't realise it meant something good!

[Doctor Digby]

When I first started out I was freaked out too I was like OMG WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG!?!!?!!

[streetwisegerbil]

Asked OH to take Pablo and Miro out for their morning exercise. Lots of moaning that they wouldn't come onto his hand as they
"didn't know his smell" ..." weren't interested"..."wanted to sit in the nest"....  etc etc. ( oooh,' suspicious' gerbils and rejection=v  hard to take   )

So... I go in. They are waiting expectantly. Big rush to my hand!  And Pablo, usually shy and only recently  started tentatively sitting on hand for transportation purposes - is on there first! Usually it's Miro. Out . And then Miro and I think he is vibrating in my hand.  (they purred when young but not since.)

Warmed the cockles of my heart. 

[eaturbyfill]

I hope I have a purring gerbil someday! Mine are too busy running around to vibrate.

[Leila]

My girl it’s are doing this against their tank it sounds like flapping

[Markpd]

Interesting, AFAIK my boys have never done this, but they don't like to be held anyway

[Thea]

It's been a while since anyone's been on this thread but Rolo used to always 'purr'! It was so lovely, she would sit in my hand and vibrate for ages I think one of my boys occasionally did as well (can't remember which), and Storme did. Maybe I was just lucky and it isn't too common, I don't know. I find it's something they do when they get a bit older or start to slow down since they tend to enjoy being held more then, so it could still happen with your boys Mark